Our submitter passes along this bratty-but-pretty-much-toothless note written by her niece, Samantha. Explains our submitter: “Yellow Fang’s Secret is a book in the ‘Warrior’ series (about clans of cats). It isn’t actually going to be published until October.”
related: More not-so-threatening threats by kids
extra credit: “Why Are American Kids So Spoiled?” [newyorker.com]
153 responses so far ↓
#1
Jitty
WTF is wrong with this kid?! What a spoiled brat!
Aug 29, 2012 at 3:56 pm rating: 137
#2
shwo!
“I want an Oompa Loompa now!“
Aug 29, 2012 at 4:07 pm rating: 200
#3
Lola
I think someone needs to lose THEIR Kindle privileges.
Aug 29, 2012 at 4:33 pm rating: 103
#4
lala
your kid is an asshole.
Aug 29, 2012 at 4:46 pm rating: 92
#5
QBall
Probably a Lib
Aug 29, 2012 at 4:51 pm rating: 9
#6
Saph
I wonder if their mother will give in. If the kids are that spoiled already, my guess is yes.
Aug 29, 2012 at 4:58 pm rating: 29
#7
UHOH
Bad parenting alert. There’s nothing cute about a kid this entitled who gets away with disrespecting her mom this way. Wake up and discipline your child before she can’t be helped.
Aug 29, 2012 at 5:31 pm rating: 100
#8
ae
The “it’s MY Kindle you know” line would have gotten me the “oh, did you pay for it with your own money?” line from my parents if I’d said that to them.
Aug 29, 2012 at 5:45 pm rating: 105
#9
Anna
“It’s my kindle”???
Well, I suppose if she worked and earned $100, she can afford to be a brat to the tooth fairy…
Aug 29, 2012 at 5:46 pm rating: 16
#10
rf
Dear Samantha:
I have decided to use your kindle as a frisbee for the dog. When you decide to come out of your room, you can find it outside in the puddle of water (it rained last night, sorry).
Love,
Your parents
Aug 29, 2012 at 5:48 pm rating: 87
#11
Amber
There’s something about a little kid having a Kindle that boggles me. I guess it’s not the same as giving them a cell phone, but it’s still weird. That might be because my childhood came just before the computer age, though. And I would have gotten a well-deserved smack for giving that kind of attitude to my parents.
Aug 29, 2012 at 5:51 pm rating: 43
#12
kat
they have these wonderful places where normal children spend their childhood.. libraries… go there now before books can no longer free you from your ignorance spoiled little girl
Aug 29, 2012 at 5:52 pm rating: 35
#13
NayNay
Oh hell no. If my daughter wrote me a note like that, I would take “her” Kindle and give it to someone who might be a little more appreciative. My kid doesn’t have a Kindle, though, and she’s not a spoiled brat. Thank God!
Aug 29, 2012 at 6:00 pm rating: 32
#14
Greg House
Jeez, what a brat! Someone needs to be dealt a dose of reality and have that Kindle taken away from her. I’d make her haul her spoiled butt down to the library until she learned to be grateful that she is able to have a Kindle…
Aug 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm rating: 14
#15
scott hall
If this kid has computers and shit why isn’t the note an email?
Aug 29, 2012 at 6:37 pm rating: 25
#16
Poltergeist
I never thought it could happen, but Samantha has managed to soil the beauty of a child wanting to read. We are in the presence of a prodigy.
Aug 29, 2012 at 6:46 pm rating: 61
#17
Smokey
Dear accidental pregnancy,
Hope you enjoy the foster home! Leave the kindle on the kitchen table.
Never again,
“Mom”
Aug 29, 2012 at 6:58 pm rating: 32
#18
rubberbiscuit
I’m acquainted with Yellowfang, a venerable medicine cat for Thunderclan. Yellowfang would claw that kid to shreds, and then make her put mouse bile on the elders ticks and change their bedding.
Aug 29, 2012 at 7:08 pm rating: 27
#19
Rolandito
That kid would be accompanying me to the electronics donation and recycling center the next day, and SHE would be handing it in and asking that it be given to a child who would appreciate the gift.
Aug 29, 2012 at 7:33 pm rating: 22
#20
deprogrammed
Y’all pretty much covered it. Thanks.
Aug 29, 2012 at 8:10 pm rating: 4
#21
Madrias
Sounds like someone needs a good case of low-tech reality.
Take away the Kindle, give it to someone who deserves it more, and make her save up pocket change to get a library card like a normal child.
Don’t give in to the spoiled brats, parents!
Aug 29, 2012 at 9:15 pm rating: 8
#22
H for Toy
My dad is the kind of guy who never has to raise his voice to get his point across. In my 35 years of life, he has only done it a total of two times to me…. and both where when I talked to my mom in exactly this manner. I would’ve caught hell for a note like this!
Aug 29, 2012 at 9:29 pm rating: 12
#23
Kupo
Wow, people on this site take themselves too seriously. This is your typical childhood ego-centrism and I thought it was pretty funny that the kid thought that just because it was *her* kindle she was entitled to content. Clearly she doesn’t understand how money works or what it means for a book to not be out yet, but that’s probably the lesson she’s starting to learn right now.
Also, I don’t know why everyone is so much against a kid having a kindle. I think it’s a great idea. I used to go through a book or two a week when I was a kid, and I see nothing wrong with giving kids electronics. But then, I don’t gripe about all the stuff “kids today” have because of some jealousy about that stuff not being invented yet in my childhood, much unlike most of the whining I see on this site. I think it’s awesome that new technology is being released and I’m glad for the kids who get to take advantage of it.
*Shrug*
Aug 29, 2012 at 10:09 pm rating: 34
#24
aliceblue
Yes the kid is a brat and the I won’t do what you want deserves cooking whatever the kids hates most for the next couple of dinners. However, as one who neither has or wants kids, I am looking at the “threat” not to leave her room until Oct. as a delightful promise.
Aug 29, 2012 at 11:17 pm rating: 24
#25
Adriana
I can’t even imagine saying this to my mother. She would’ve killed me. I had a surprising amount of freedom as a child, but disrespect was the one thing she never tolerated. I think I would’ve found the Kindle in broken pieces when I got home from school.
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:19 am rating: 11
#26
shell
My god. All of you people think you are so high and mighty, and obviously don’t remember what being a kid is like.
But regardless, show me one adult here who never used the exact tactic to get what he or she wants. Grown ups do this all the time! In close relationship, too. To say this girl needs to be threatened or shocked in order to teach her a lesson just proves you are exactly like the little girl, wanting to punish her mom by threatening to love her less.
I would suggest growing and, but I see it’s probably futile.
Aug 30, 2012 at 2:09 am rating: 15
#27
a-Arialist
The really bizarre thing is that book has a bunch of five-star reviews on Amazon, and it’s not even been published yet…
Aug 30, 2012 at 3:23 am rating: 3
#28
zomboid
dear commenters of the internet,
‘entitled’ does not mean what you think it means
that is all.
Aug 30, 2012 at 7:58 am rating: 4
#29
Eileen
Unless Grandma gave the Kindle to her as a birthday present, I think we can safely assume that Mom paid for the Kindle, and Mom should take it away until she apologizes for being a brat. And damn right you’re not leaving your room. Grounded, big time.
Aug 30, 2012 at 8:00 am rating: 13
#30
Fireseeker
On one hand, I want to commend this child for holding out on her mother over a book and not some senseless toy, but on the other hand I want to slap her for sassing her mother.
On the other hand, maybe her mother deserves that for buying her child an expensive electronic device.
On the other hand . . . there is no other hand.
Aug 30, 2012 at 8:25 am rating: 4
#31
Jadzia
A lot of assumptions being made here about the kid, the Kindle, and the intended tone of the letter. I’m sure it is entirely possible that she is a spoiled brat as y’all assume. Then again, she may be like my kid who I could see writing exactly such a letter to me. If my daughter borrows my Kindle from me for five minutes, she starts proclaiming that it is her Kindle now. Because there is always the chance that Mom will have a moment of insanity and say “Okay, sure, it’s yours now.” And she occasionally makes dramatic threats if she feels strongly about something and she is frustrated over her lack of control over the situation. That is my cue to sit down with her and help her to understand why she can’t get what she wants and discuss alternatives. Then there are times when she will say “Duh!” because she knows how I would react to that (very negatively) and she is trying to get a rise out of me. When I realize what she’s doing, I turn the tables and soon we are both laughing at our silliness. In short, she’s a lively, engaging child who does know her limits but feels safe to test them in a loving home.
The girl who wrote the letter could be the same way. Or she could be a spoiled brat with a parent at her beck and call. But here’s something else to chew on: I think her aunt would not have sent it in if she really thought her niece was horrid. If that is what she thinks of her, I think the passive aggressive one is the aunt for outing her sister’s bad parenting.
Aug 30, 2012 at 8:40 am rating: 31
#32
Kwyjor
Team Spoiled Brat! If this person were any kind of mother she would be storming the offices of the publishing house with picket signs and demanding an early release so as not to cause her daughter to suffer for a moment longer!
Or something like that. Or not.
Aug 30, 2012 at 9:36 am rating: 13
#33
Dane Zeller
Y’all have the naivete of seven-year old children. An obnoxious note from Samantha and Sophie? Hah! Samantha and Sophie are employed in the marketing department of Harper Collins. You just fell for one of the best sales ploy I’ve ever seen. Don’t you get it? “Yellow Fang’s Secret,” coming to your bookstore in October!!!!! Ha!
Aug 30, 2012 at 10:55 am rating: 17
#34
havingfitz
Sorry, I just can’t excuse talking to a parent like that. I can’t really excuse talking to anyone like that. Parents don’t do their children any favors by allowing it: sooner or later the child has to go out into the real world. I’ve watched young employees where I work try this kind of thing with our bosses: all it gets them is thrown out the door.
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:14 am rating: 9
#35
Boda
Considering that books are about the best thing for a kid’s development, I would say take something ELSE away from her – like TV or Internet privileges. I would say that I owe my present intelligence today to the fact that my mother never denied me a book – and no matter how hard I was grounded I could always watch science documentaries and read books.
And parents, don’t give something to your kids if it’s not really going to be theirs. Kids already feel a loss of control in their life – parents tell them where they can play, what they can eat, what they can wear, what their hair will look like, when their bedtime is…pretty much everything. If you give them an item on their birthday and tell them that it’s theirs, it better damn well be and no guilt tripping. It’s just about the ONLY thing in their lives that they have control over, and to take items away with a “Well you didn’t WORK for it like -I- did!” is just…rude. And petty. Of course they couldn’t work for it, they’re kids and that’s illegal (and as a kid I would’ve said that if that argument was used). There are better ways to discipline a child. How about explaining to them how they’re being inconsiderate instead of just smacking them and yanking something out of their hands. Sure, they might learn not to do it, but it doesn’t teach them WHY they shouldn’t do it. They grow up into the person who isn’t sorry for something they said but the fact that someone overheard them.
Sorry for the rant, this is more of a discourse on parenting in general and doesn’t really have anything to do with this but…man, I’m so tired of parents taking the lazy route and not thinking about long-term development…
Aug 30, 2012 at 1:33 pm rating: 15
#36
Bookmark
I’m under the impression that the submitter’s daughters have missed out on a few time-outs over the years… some parents don’t realize that, by not employing any kind of discipline or punishment for bad behavior, they are being BAD parents. And there are plenty of appropriate methods of discipline that don’t involve pain.
Aug 30, 2012 at 1:37 pm rating: 7
#37
Ely North
If I was the mom, I’d be like “Fine. Stay in your room. I don’t want to see your ugly face anyway.” I can’t wait to be a parent!
Aug 30, 2012 at 3:35 pm rating: 7
#38
speak it
I would be like “you promise you are not coming out of your room? GOOD” Then I’d lock that little twerp in her room with zero access to social media or any type of technology except a good old book and a flashlight. No lamps light bulbs, NOTHIN! Maybe I’d push some food if under the door if I were nice….
Aug 30, 2012 at 6:37 pm rating: 2
#39
havingfitz
I’d love to hear from the submitter on this one. Samantha’s Aunt: what is your niece really like? Is she usually a nice kid who was just having a bad day, or is this standard behavior from her? There’s all kinds of opinions on here about her, but I’m curious what the truth is.
Aug 30, 2012 at 7:51 pm rating: 2
#40
KH
I’ve felt like sending a similar note to George R.R. Martin. “I will not leave my house until you DUH finish writing book 6.”
Aug 31, 2012 at 12:55 am rating: 9
#41
BiblioBabe
Wait, are we freaking out on the kid for wanting to read? Really? Yeah, she sounds like a spoiled brat in this note and I have no way of knowing whether or not she is actually a brat in real life. But:
1. She did not spawn herself. If she is a brat, it’s her parents’ fault.
2. If she did not earn the money to buy her own kindle, it was given to her by a family member–probably her parent(s).
3. If her parents bought her a kindle, they at the very least implicitly agreed to run her book purchased through one of their credit cards, and more likely agreed to outright buy the books.
4. A CHILD IS WANTING TO READ A BOOK. CELEBRATE THAT.
Aug 31, 2012 at 5:50 am rating: 3
#42
Ray K.
You will not write a note like that! You will show me the respect I deserve! (Takes out gun and shoots kindle several times.)
Aug 31, 2012 at 9:57 am rating: 0
#43
Katie
I think it´s okay for her to have a Kindle. Maybe she reads a lot and it was her birthday present. Fine. I just don´t like how she doesn´t appreciate it at all. She´s like, “Oh yeah, you gave me a very expensive e-reader, now give me another book!”
I think she just doesn´t know that these things cost a lot of money. That Warriors book is about $ 10 and it might seem cheap, but still her mother has to earn that money and it seems to me like she thinks it comes out of nowhere and that´s not okay.
Aug 31, 2012 at 10:55 am rating: 3
#44
Ace of Space
Veruca? Is that you?
Aug 31, 2012 at 3:44 pm rating: 3
#45
SugarPlum
When my daughter was 4 she once spouted off a remark similar to this…it was after I refused to buy her ANOTHER stuffed animal, she had a ridiculous amount. She said, “Well if I can’t have that toy I am just going to rip the heads off all my stuffed toys!” I was quiet disturbed to hear this come out of her mouth..so I went and got a trash bag and handed it to her and said, “No need, put all of them in the trash bag and take it to the dumpster”. It was an impulse parenting moment, but I wasn’t about to stand by and let her be such a brat (I realized in hind sight I should of donated them before you point that out). Anyways, it was a lesson she never forgot. She is 7 now and every now and then she will mention a “favorite” animal she had to throw away but she is very remorseful of her actions and it has NEVER happened again! She watches her tongue closely now ;).
Aug 31, 2012 at 11:54 pm rating: 12
#46
TurnOffTheDarnLights
My mom would have walked up to me, taken that Kindle and not let me have it back for a long while, if ever.
She’s an awesome mom, but the mouthing off and ingratitude would NOT be tolerated.
Sep 2, 2012 at 11:47 am rating: 4
#47
Mega
Completely unacceptable behavior. But judging from the sheer balls of that note, this isn’t the first time Samantha has made demands. Mom needs to take her up on her offer of never leaving her room. And she needs to lose her Kindle and anything else she doesn’t appreciate.
Sep 5, 2012 at 7:18 am rating: 2
#48
K
You gave this little turd their own Kindle? No wonder they write notes like this. Do you lie down flat on the ground before you let them walk all over you? Sometimes the old song from the original Willy Wonka really applies. “Who do you blame when a kid is a… BRAT?”
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:02 pm rating: 1
#49
Fog
What would taking the kindle away achieve? She already can’t use it in the way she wants. I am not a fan of gifts to children being ‘owned’ by their parents. I also wonder if the writers of the many comments advocating the kindle’s removal are aware of how kindles work? I think an effective response to this letter would be to simply ignore it. Eventually the child would realize that while the kindle is hers to use, it is up to her to pay for her own reading material (and wait for it to be released) and that ridiculous threats are worthy of no attention whatsoever.
Sep 8, 2012 at 10:21 am rating: 0
#50
Pixie
This is what happens when people stop spanking their kids.
I would never think of speaking in that way to my mother, Nor would I now.
Sep 26, 2012 at 12:06 pm rating: 0
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